Christian groups in our country have a vocal history of at once practicing and defending their homophobia with religious pretenses. Which is all fine and dandy, except for the fact that many of these groups receive federal and state government funding, thus eliminating their right to discriminate under any circumstances. We mentioned yesterday that we expected the Illinois case to be the first of many throughout the country.

Today the British have beat us to the punch. London’s Royal Courts of Justice have ruled that Christians who disapprove of homosexuality may no longer serve as foster parents in the country. The case involved Eunice and Owen Johns (62, 65), a Derby couple who had been raising foster children since the 1990’s. A 2007 routine interview with child care services raised red flags when the couple let loose a torrent of “strong views” on homosexuality being sinful. Four years later, the couple’s religious defense for their intolerance has resulted in all anti-gay Christians being barred from raising wards of the state.

While these measures may seem dramatic, we can’t say we aren’t pleased with them. Those being targeted by England’s anti-discrimination laws need only stop practicing their homophobic ways in order to appear in the good graces of the courts and their fellow man. Requiring people to stop hating is hardly a lot to ask.